Perhaps you’ve been watching Republican contenders compete for the party presidential nomination these last few months, you’ve likely forgotten all that has happened so far during this wide-open contest. If so, you’re not alone. The candidates are forgetting too. So lets re-cap.

Texas Governor Rick Perry was first to forget at a November 9th debate when naming the 3 agencies he says he’ll cut if he reaches the Oval Office. Perry said “Commerce, Education, and the umm…” His forgetfulness was a catastrophic slip that should have been plugged by the naming of the Energy Department. Perry later commented, “I’m glad I had my boots on tonight. I stepped in it out there.”

Perhaps energy is what Candidate Herman Can was lacking when thoughts started to “twirl” around in his head in a meeting with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board. When asked if he agreed with President Obama on his handling of Libya, Cain displayed a major fumble. Cain explained his disagreement after a long pause with, “no that’s a different one!” Cain went on to ask for more clarification as if he had forgotten the question. Cain later told CNN he was, “too tired”, to do the interview.

Cain and Perry seem to share a lack of “energy”, and since they’re sharing Cain may need Perry’s boots. He has certainly “steeped in it” after four women have come forward accusing him of sexual harassment. Early on, Cain told ABC News reporters, “I don’t even remember her”, speaking of Sharon Bialek, who remembered enough to issue a press conference along-side Woman’s Rights Attorney Gloria Allread. Cain stands by his claim he has done nothing wrong. As soon as we began to forget claims against Cain that had all but died in the media, a Georgia businesswoman surprised us with another reminder late Monday. Ginger White told FOX affiliate WAGA, “It wasn’t complicated. I was aware that he was married. And I was also aware I was involved in a very inappropriate situation, relationship.” During what is being called a “preemptive strike” Cain told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer he has known White for years; although he denies in extra-marital affair.

Perhaps these two candidates who are still viable options for the “anybody but Romney” crew are truly weary from the exhaustion of the campaign trail, or perhaps both Cain and Perry should bow out, and well, forget about it!

Originally published, Fall 2011

Chris J. Taylor and IamChrisJTaylor.com claim no political affiliations